Unit electrical switch for gang assembly



Feb. v17, 1959 H. H. PEAsE UNIT ELECTRICAL SWITCH FOR GANG ASSEMBLYFiled July 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l %WM UH T ,ly 6 mp m ,um ma M I/ MUM l f asf/y l j n n l Z H V. 2 B

H. H. PEASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVUVTGR. Hmacaw M ,0E/95e' BY 65 35.15 M,wrm

Arret/VIV Feb. 17, 1959 UNIT ELECTRICAL SWITCH FCR GANG ASSEMBLY FiledJuly 28, 1955 i@ @Jia O/l/o United States Patent O UNIT ELECTRICALSWITCH FOR GANG ASSEMBLY Harlow H. Pease, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor toClum Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of WisconsinApplication July 28, 1955, Serial No. 524,858

Claims. (Cl. 317-99) This invention relates to a unit electrical switchdesignedfor gang assembly.

Any number of units, each comprising a casing and each enclosing aswitch mechanism with its own operating lever, are assembled on a busbar which provides mechanical as well as electrical connection and issuciently flexible so that the series of switches can be conformed to aninside or an outside curve. Conformation of the series to a concavesurface requires a slight space along the bus bar between the casings ofthe individual unit switches. However, dowels with which the casingparts are provided have adequate projection to maintain the severalunits properly oriented under all conditions of use.

Right and left hand parts of the switch casing members are identical,each being provided with one dowel and one dowel socket and each beingdesigned to cooperate with the enclosed switch mechanism and theoperating lever member therefor, the lever member being pivotalrespecting the casing member. Studs are desirably integral with one ofsuch members. In one of the disclosed embodiments, the stud means isintegral with the lever member to co-act with bearing means provided bythe casing member. In another disclosed embodiment, the stud means isintegral with the parts of the casing member to co-act with bearingmeans provided by the lever member.

In both disclosed embodiments, the lever member is desirably subject tothe action of a single spring. In one embodiment, the spring tends torestore the lever Vmember to center, leaving both of its oppositecontacts open. In the other disclosed embodiment, the spring acts acrosscenter to tend to maintain one or the other of the switch contactsclosed. ln one of the disclosed embodiments, the spring is disposedwithin a portion of the actuating lever; in the other disclosedembodiment, the spring encircles a portion of the contact actuatinglever.

In each case, the actuating lever operates a Contact carrier to causethe carrier to pivot from side to side for the closing of an. electricalcircuit in each of its extremes of oscillatory movement. However, in oneof the disclosed embodiments, the contact carrier pivots with theactuating lever, and in the other embodiment, the contact carrier pivotsin the direction of oscillation which is opposite to that of the lever.

In both of the disclosed embodiments, the contact carrier desirablycomprises a resilient bar having contact buttons at its ends, thearrangement being such that in the course of contact closing movement,the bar is exed not only to assure contact closing under firm springpressure but, additionally, to assure a certain degree of wiping actionof the movable contacts carried by the bar across the fixed contactsmounted in the switch casing.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a switch unit embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view taken in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

2,874,338 Patented Feb. 17, 1959 ice Fig. 3 is a view taken in sectionon the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the unit.

Fig. 5 is a view taken in section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view taken in section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective on a slightly enlarged scale showing theseparated identical parts of the switch casing member.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 9 is a view taken in section generally in the plane indicated at9--9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view taken in section generally in the plane indicated at10-10 in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a gang of four switch units as mounted for usein a laterally projected direction, portions of the units being brokenaway to expose the connection to the mounting bus bar.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the switch gang shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a rear elevational view of the gang shown in Fig. 11,portions being broken away to expose the dowelled connection betweenswitch casing members.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 1l showing a switch gang organized formounting on a concave surface, portions being broken away.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 showing a switch gang assembled formounting on a convex surface, portions being broken away.

Each unit switch 'comprises a casing member having identical right andleft casing parts 17 and 18 separately illustrated in perspective inFig. 7. These parts can conveniently `be molded of dielectric plastic toinclude butting faces 19 at their respective ends, registering notchesat 20 which, together, make up a slot in which the handle lever memberoscillates, and interior cavities at 21 which together make up thechamber in which the movable switch contacts are disposed, andlongitudinal channels at 22 for the reception of the dielectric carrierplate 23 in which the fixed contacts hereinafter to be described aremounted.

Transverse external channels at 24 and 25 across the top and outside ofeach of the casing member parts receive spring clips 26 which hold thecasing member parts together upon the back plate 23 in the mannerclearly shown in Fig. 5.

Each of the casing member parts of the switch comprises a flat lateralface or faces 27, socketed at 28 near one end of the switch and providedwith a projecting dowel stud 29 at the other. When the parts 17 and 18are reversed end for end to be connected by the clips 26 to constitute aswitch casing member, the d owel stud 29 will project from one of suchparts at one end of the switch and from the other part at the other endof the switch, whereby any desired number of the casing members can beassembled side by side to constitute a switch gang as shown in Figs. llto 15, the dowels of each such unit being interlockingly engaged in thesockets of the next contiguous units to maintain the several units inregistry. The length of the dowels and sockets is suicient to maintainregistering engagement between such units, notwithstanding the slightangular displacement required to accommodate the gang for mounting oncurved surfaces as in Figs. 14 and 15.

In the preferred construction, the flat lateral surfaces 27 adjacent theends of the switch are somewhat spaced as best shown in Fig. 4, and thedielectric switch carrier plate 23 is laterally extended at 30 betweenthe bosses providing surfaces 27 to preclude any longitudinaldisplacement of the carrier plate 23 relative to the switch agressecasing member parts. Thus, the assembly of plate 23 Within the parts andthe application of the spring wire clips 26 securely locks the severalparts of the casing uni- ;tarily together.

The dielectric carrier plate 23 for the xed Ycontacts supports xed.contact buttons .35 and36 within the switch `casing member at oppositeends thereof. These may conveniently Vtake theform of rivets serving toconnect the contacts 35 and 36 with external terminals 37 and 38 of anydesired form. In the embodiment shown in [Figs 1 to 7, there .isprovided a iixed contact 40 disposed intermediate contacts 35 .and 36.Contact 46 is provided with an external terminal at 4l and has a -socketat 42. Awithin the switch casing in which there is pivoted a stud 43 towhich a spring contact carrier'lever 44 is secured. Thisarm may haveup-turned ends at 45 and 46 which may conveniently be guided on interiorbosses 48 with which the casing member parts vare Yprovided. Near itsrespective ends, the spring carrier lever 44 carries .the movablecontacts 513 and 51 which, in the pivotal movement of lever 44 upon thefulcrum provided `between `stud 43 and socket 42, are caused to engageselectively with switch contact 35 or 36 respectively as shown in Fig.k2. The riiexibility of the arm or lever 44. is such that if it isforced into a position in which one of the movable contacts engages oneof the fixed contacts, the `arm iiexes resiliently with the result thatvthere is a slight wiping movement between fixed and movable contacts tokeep the contacting surfaces clean and free of corrosion.

For oscillation of the contact carrier 44, a manually operable lever 52is provided. This lever may conveniently have a metallic cap at 53 forornamentation. The cap encircles a head portion 54 of the lever whichmay be extended longitudinally of the switch casing member to an extent,suliicient that it engages the outside of the member to dene oneextreme position of oscillation of the lever member 52. Fig. 2 shows thelever member in one extreme position thus dened.

The lever member 52 has transversely aligned sockets at 55 as best shownin Fig. 6. These receive pintle studs 56 which are unitarily fixed inthe respective parts of the casing member to project toward each otherwhen these parts are assembled to constitute the casing member. Theassembly is made with the lever member 52 lintervening between the studs56, whereby the studs are constrained to enter the sockets 55 in thecourse of the assembly, thus leaving the lever member pivoted to thecasing member for oscillation therein.

A ,switch actuator taking the form of a bar V58 with rounded end 59 isguided for reciprocation across the axis of oscillation of the levermember 52, the lever member having a bore at 6u in which the actuator 58is reciprocably subject to the bias of a compression spring .61. As thelever member is oscillated counterclockwise from the position in whichit is illustrated in Fig. 2, the clearance of the projecting vend of theactuator 58 is reduced and the actuator is required to reciprocate intothe lever member against the compression of spring .61. As soon as thelever member crosses dead center, the clearance available to theactuator 58 increases. At the same time, the actuator exerts itspressure upon the carrier spring 44 at the opposite side of the centerupon which the carrier is pivoted, whereby the carrier is caused to moveclockwise sharply across dead center to engage its movable contact lwith xed contact 36. Thus, the circuit originally established throughthe spring contact carrier 44 and stud 43 from the supply terminal 41 tothe output terminal 37 is sharply interrupted and a new circuitestablished from supply terminal 4l to output terminal 38. The devicefunctions, therefore, asa snap action, double-throw, single pole switch.

Any number of the switch units described above can be assembled upon asingle bus bar which supplies current to their central contacts 40. Thisis `done by simply riveting the central contacts 40 to the bus bar 55 asshown in Figs. l'l and '13 to l5. In the speciiic device as shown, thebus bar has a unitarily connected plug at 66 to be received into anappropriate receptacle. This, however, forms no part of the invention.If the gang of switches is intended .to .be mounted rectilinearly on aflat surface, the casing member parts assembled as separate units andmounted on a single bus bar are closely associated as in Figs. ll to l3.lf the switches comprisingthe gang are to be mounted on la concavesurface, the several units are spaced .slightly apart along the bus bar65 as shown in Fig. 14 to enable the bus bar to be curved intoconformity with the mounting surface. On the other hand, if the gang isto be mounted on a convex surface as shown in Fig. l5, the several unitsare assembled as closely together as is conveniently possible as shownin Figs. ll to l5, and the bus bar is then bent to tit the convexVsurface as shown in Fig. l5. Regardless of any iiexing of the bus barwithin practical limits, the dowelling connection between switch casingmember units will remain effective to keep the several units inregistry.

Figs. S 'to l() disclose a modified embodiment. The

ycasing member parts 17d and 18@ are very similar to those alreadydisclosed and held together by the same spring clips 26. However, theinterior arrangement is somewhat dierent in that this double-throwswitch has normally open contacts. The bar 530 which fulcrums in thesocket 42 of the center contact 4t) is, in this embodiment, extendedthrough the spring carrier 44, the center of which is fixed on the bar.The upper end of the bar vis received into the bore 6% of the lever 520,the lever being bodily reciprocable axially of bar 580 against the biasof a compression spring 68 which encircles the portion 69 of Vthe vleverand is seated at one end against `the carrier 44 and, at its other end,against the shoulder 70 of the lever.

lln this case, it is the lever member 520 rather than the casing memberwhich is provided unitarily with the studs 72, while the casing memberparts provide the bearing surfaces upon which such studs are movable. lnthis embodiment, the bearings constitute cam surfaces 73 and 74 whichare upwardly convergent as best shown in Fig. l0 so that any oscillatorydisplacement of lever 52@ from the position of Fig. 8 in eitherdirection of oscillation will cause the studs 72 to slide downwardlyupon one of the cam surfaces '73 or 74 toincrease the compression ofspring 68, as has occurred in Fig. l0. Only by continued manual pressureclockwise upon lever 520, can the movable contact 51 be maintained inengagement /with fixed contact 36. As `soon as manual pressure isreleased, the reactiony of spring 68 and lthe interengagement of thestuds 72V with cam` surfaces 74 of the opposite casing parts, restorestuds 72 to their uppermost position Vat the apex'between cam surfaces73 and 74 in lwhich position both of the circuits controlled by theswitch are open as shown in Fig. 10.

It will be evident that the'disclosed construction is highly iiexible inthat identical casing parts are assembled to make a unit switch casingmember which is equipped with dowel and socket means for assembly in anydesired member with like casing members to make up a gang of any desirednumber of switches. The means `for connecting and disconnecting thecasing parts of the respective units is extremely simple andinexpensive, and the interlocking connection of the rear carrier platewith thev identical left and right hand casing parts is such that themere application of the spring clips Vleaves the parts secure against`the possibility of displacement.

Both embodiments herein disclosed have the very substantial advantagesV.of the flexible wiping engagement between fixed and movable contacts;the `unitarily mounted studs either yon kthe casing member or the levermember which interact with bearings provided by the other member,l andthe use of a `single spring associated with the lever member to opposedisplacement of the lever member from the selected position which, inthe one embodiment, 1s in the open circuit position and, in the otherembodiment, is one of the closed circuit positions.

I claim:

1. In an electrical switch, the combination with a contact carrier plateof a casing member comprising identical right and left hand parts havingintegral portions with which said plate is interlocked, the plate beingdependent for its position upon interlock with said portions, andfurther means for the detachable connection of the casing parts, fixedswitch contacts on the carrier, a pivotally movable lever member mountedfor oscillation respecting the casing member, and -a movable contactcarrier within the casing member having a movable contact engageablewith and disengageable from the fixed contact of the carrier plate inthe oscillation of said lever member, the movable contact carriercomprising a spring and its range of movement effected by said levermember exceeding that required to engage said movable and fixedcontacts, whereby the spring is flexed in the engagement of the fixedand movable contacts for wiping movement between such contacts.

2. In an electrical switch, the combination with a contact carrier plateof a casing member comprising identical right and left hand parts havingintegral portions with which said plate is interlocked and further meansfor the detachable connection of the casing parts, fixed switch contactson the carrier, ya pivotally movable lever member mounted foroscillation respecting the casing member and a movable contact carrierwithin the casing member having amovable contact engageable anddisengageable from the fixed Contact of the carrier plate in theoscillation of said lever member, the movable Contact carrier comprisinga spring tiexed in the engagement of the fixed and movable contacts forwiping movement between such contacts, one of said members beingunitarily provided with laterally aligned studs and the other saidmember being provided with bearing surfaces engaged by said studs in theoscillation of the lever member respecting the casing member.

3. The device of claim 2 in which the bearing surfaces are provided bythe casing member and comprise upwardly convergent cam surfaces atopposite sides of the lever member, in further combination with acompression spring acting outwardly on the lever member and compressedin the oscillation ofthe lever member by the interaction of the levermember studs with the said cam surfaces of the casing member.

4. The device of claim 2 in which the studs are carried by oppositeparts of the casing member, the lever being pivotally movable thereon,the movable contact carri-er being fulcrumed on said fixed contactcarrier plate, and the lever member comprising a spring biased plungermovable across the fulcrum of the movable contact carrier.

5. The device of claim 2 in further combination with spring meansmounted for movement with the lever member in the oscillation thereof,`and means providing a seat for the spring means upon which the springmeans is compressed in the oscillation of the lever member from apredetermined position.

6. The device of claim 5 in which the spring means is housed within thelever member, the seat including a plunger reciprocable outwardly of thelever member and the movable contact carrier being engaged by theplunger and mounted for pivotal movement respecting the fixed contactcarrier plate, said plunger being movable across the pivot in theoscillation of the lever member.

7. The device of claim 5 in which said spring encircles a portion of thelever member and is seated against the lever member at its outer end,the said bearing surfaces comprising cam surfaces with which the studmeans interact in the oscillation of the lever member in a direc` tionto increase the compression of the spring means by bodily displacing thelever member.

8. In a gang switch, a series of switch units each of which compriseslike right and left hand casing member parts and means holding saidparts in connection and each of which comprises a rear carrier plate ininterlocking engagement with said parts and provided with fixedcontacts, each such unit further including a pivot ally movable levermember and movable contact means provided with a movable contact carrierwithin the casing member and connected to said lever to be actuatedthereby, lever fulcrum stud means unitarily positioned on one of saidmembers, the other said member having complementary bearing surfaces;and a bus bar connected with corresponding fixed contacts of the severalswitch units and comprising mechanical as well as electrical connectionsbetween such units.

9. The device of claim 8 in which the casing member parts of the severalunits have interacting dowels and sockets engaged in the gang assemblyof said units along said bus bar yfor Imaintaining the units inregistration.

10. The device of claim 8 in which the bus bar is curved and the gang ofswitches is arranged in arcuate series along said bar.

1l. A switch unit comprising a fixed contact carrier plate, a centralsupply contact mounted in said plate, output contacts spaced at oppositesides of the supply contact and mounted in said plate, a pair of moldedswitch casing elements having plate-receiving channels in which themargins of the plate are engaged, means connecting the casing elementsto each other in interlocked engagement with'the plate, a spring movablecontact carrier having a boss pivoted upon the fixed supply contactfirst mentioned, said carrier comprising an electrical conductor havingmovable contacts engageable selectively with the output fixed contactsin the oscillation of the carrier upon the fixed supply-contact firstmentioned, and lever means for the actuation of said carrier andincluding means for oscillating said carrier under pressure bias wherebyto fiex the carrier in the engagement of each of its movable contactswith the respective fixed contacts of said plate.

12. A switch unit comprising a fixed contact carrier plate, a centralsupply Contact mounted in said plate, output contacts spaced at oppositesides of the supply contact and mounted in said plate, a pair of moldedswitch casing elements having plate-receiving channels in which themargins of the plate are engaged, means connecting the casing elementsto each other in interlocked engagement with the plate, a spring movablecontact carrier having a boss pivoted upon the fixed supply contactfirst mentioned, said carrier comprising an electrical conductor havingmovable contacts engageable selectively with the output fixed contactsin the oscillation of the carrier upon the fixed supply contact firstmentioned and lever means for the actuation of said carrier andincluding means for oscillating said carrier under pressure bias wherebyto flex the carrier in the engagement of each of its movable contactswith the respective fixed contacts of said plate, the lever beingconnected to the carrier to oscillate therewith.

13. The device of claim 12 iu which the lever connection to the movablecontact carrier includes a plunger with respect to which the lever isreciprocable substantially radially of the pivot upon which the movablecontact carrier oscillates, and a spring urging the lever outwardlyrespecting the plunger, the lever having laterally projecting studs andthe casing parts having complementary cam surfaces engaged by the studsand outwardly convergent to define au intermediate lever position fromwhich the lever is displaced against the bias of said spring in theoscillation of the lever in either direction from said position.

14. The device of claim 11 in which the lever has an independentfulcrurn upon said casing parts and is provided with a spring pressedplunger engaging said carrier and movable across the fixed supplycontact first men- 7 tiene@ to pivot the movable .contest sar-.rief andte eren flexing Pressure thereon Y15- The combination with a flexiblem15 bar o f a sans of switches, each unitarily comprising a casinghavin-g fixed and movable contacts, `means physically and electricallyconnecting the bus bar with iixed contacts of the respective fixednnits, the several units being entirely dependent on the bus bar forphysical connection whereby the resulting gang may be formed in an arcby ilexing the bus bar.

16. The combination set forth in claim 15 `in which the xed contactsaforesaid are at the backs of the respective casings and manuallyoperable levers prog'ect from the fronts of the respective casings andare connected to the movable contacts of said units, the several casingshaving means loosely interlocked to maintain their alignment in variouspositions to which said bus bar may be ilexed and the bus bar beinglocated behind the several units, whereby the levers lproject outwardlythere from.

l7. The device of claim 15 in which the several switch units comprisecasings respectively provided with telescopic and releasable dowel andsocket means interengaged to maintain the several units in orientedrelationship along the bus bar Without physical connection between theunits other than through the bus bar.

18. A switch of the character described comprising the combination witha contact carrier plate and fixed contacts mounted thereon, of a pair ofcomplementary casing parts interlocked with the said plate and providedWith means connecting them with each other about said xed contacts, saidparts having complementary portions forming an interior cavity, amovable contact carrier within the cavity comprising a conductor havingengagement with one of the xed contacts and having@movable.centaeteneassable vwith another, lever meansrivotallyfmorablewith :respect ltosaida.sins parts and having a handle.proiectingtherefrqm torV manipulation, means -for transmittingoscillatory movement of the lever means to the movable contactcarrierand a single'spring opposing oscillation of the lever means from apredetermined position.

19. The device of claim 18 in which vsaid spring comprises a coil springand a portion of the lever means is disposed within the spring.

979,011 Levy Dec. 20, ,1910 1,676,608 Hubbell July v10, 192,8 1,925,612Snell Sept. 5, 19,33 2,121,569 Peterson June 21, 1938 2,206,325 LomaxJuly 2, 1940 2,248,362 Krieger July 8, 1,941 2,352,936 Bryant July 4,1944 2,440,824 Jackson May 4, 1948 2,506,196 Bourne May 2, 19502,632,039 Hammerly Mar. 17, 1953 2,686,234 v obszarpny Aug. 10, 19542,723,327 Gilbert Nov. s, 1955 2,727,956 Winter Dec. 20, 1955 1 FOREIGNPATENTS 113,504 Australia AJune 19,29

756,120 France Dec. 5, 1933 534,961 `Great Britain Mar. 24, 19411,076,800 France Apr. 2l, 1954

